Psychology 144 Exam Summary
1. Chapter 12: Personality Theories………………………………………………………………………………2
2. Key Learning Goals………………………………………………………………………………………………….12
3. Chapter 13: Social Psychology…………………………………………………………………………………15
4. Key Learning Goals………………………………………………………………………………………………….27
5. Chapter 17: Culture and Mental Health…………………………………………………………………..31
6. Key Learning Goals………………………………………………………………………………………………….35
7. Chapter 18: Complementary Alternative Treatment of Mental Illness…………………….39
8. Key Learning Goals………………………………………………………………………………………………….48
9. Chapter 19: Treatment of Mental Illnesses in South Africa: Culture-Related…………..51
10. Key Learning Goals………………………………………………………………………………………………….55
1
, Chapter 12: Personality theories
Personality definition
• A dynamic and complex set of unique psychological characteristics, such as cognitions,
motivations and behaviours that exert an influence on an individual’s patterns of
behaviour in various situations.
• Personality Traits: Dispositions and Dimensions
• Personality trait = is a durable disposition to behave in a particular way in a variety of
situations.
• Adjectives that represent personality traits: honest, dependable, moody, impulsive,
suspicious, anxious, excitable, domineering and friendly.
The five-factor model of personality traits
McCrae and Costa have used factor analysis to arrive at an even simpler, five-factor model of
personality: The Big Five.
• High Extraversion scores signify that a person is outgoing, sociable, upbeat, friendly,
assertive, and gregarious. Some trait models refer to this as positive emotionality.
• High Neuroticism scores signify that a person is anxious, hostile, self-conscious,
insecure, and vulnerable - some models call this negative emotionality.
• Openness to experience is associated with curiosity, flexibility, vivid fantasy,
imaginativeness, artistic sensitivity, and unconventional attitudes.
• Agreeableness is associated with people who are sympathetic, trusting, cooperative,
modest, and straightforward. It may have its roots in temperament.
• Conscientious people are diligent, disciplined, well-organised, punctual, and
dependable. Some models refer to this trait as constraint, related to high productivity
in a variety of occupational areas.
2
,Psychodynamic Perspectives
Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory
• Structures of the personality are
largely in the unconscious.
• Unaware of why we behave.
• Behaviour influenced by conflict
between instincts/drives, past
experiences, and social norms.
• Drives: psychological representations of energy obtained from the body.
• Main driving forces in human functioning.
• Encourage the person to function.
• Determine the direction of behaviour.
Life drives (serve to preserve life)
• Ego drives
All drives aimed at satisfying basic survival needs.
• Sexual drives
Primary function is erotic pleasure.
• Death drive
Represents the destructive force of human nature.
Intra-psychic explanation for war, aggression, murder, suicide.
3 Criticisms against Freud’s theory
1. In arguing that people’s behaviour is governed by unconscious factors of which they
are unaware, Freud made the disconnecting suggestion that individuals are not
masters of their own minds.
2. In claiming that adult personalities are shaped by childhood experiences and other
factors beyond one’s control, he suggested that people are not masters of their own
destinies.
3
, 3. By emphasizing the great importance of how people cope with their sexual urges, he
offended those who held the conservative values of his time.
Structure of Personality
3 Components:
• The ID
• The Ego
• Super Ego
Functions on three levels of the consciousness:
• The conscious
• The preconscious
• The unconscious
4
1. Chapter 12: Personality Theories………………………………………………………………………………2
2. Key Learning Goals………………………………………………………………………………………………….12
3. Chapter 13: Social Psychology…………………………………………………………………………………15
4. Key Learning Goals………………………………………………………………………………………………….27
5. Chapter 17: Culture and Mental Health…………………………………………………………………..31
6. Key Learning Goals………………………………………………………………………………………………….35
7. Chapter 18: Complementary Alternative Treatment of Mental Illness…………………….39
8. Key Learning Goals………………………………………………………………………………………………….48
9. Chapter 19: Treatment of Mental Illnesses in South Africa: Culture-Related…………..51
10. Key Learning Goals………………………………………………………………………………………………….55
1
, Chapter 12: Personality theories
Personality definition
• A dynamic and complex set of unique psychological characteristics, such as cognitions,
motivations and behaviours that exert an influence on an individual’s patterns of
behaviour in various situations.
• Personality Traits: Dispositions and Dimensions
• Personality trait = is a durable disposition to behave in a particular way in a variety of
situations.
• Adjectives that represent personality traits: honest, dependable, moody, impulsive,
suspicious, anxious, excitable, domineering and friendly.
The five-factor model of personality traits
McCrae and Costa have used factor analysis to arrive at an even simpler, five-factor model of
personality: The Big Five.
• High Extraversion scores signify that a person is outgoing, sociable, upbeat, friendly,
assertive, and gregarious. Some trait models refer to this as positive emotionality.
• High Neuroticism scores signify that a person is anxious, hostile, self-conscious,
insecure, and vulnerable - some models call this negative emotionality.
• Openness to experience is associated with curiosity, flexibility, vivid fantasy,
imaginativeness, artistic sensitivity, and unconventional attitudes.
• Agreeableness is associated with people who are sympathetic, trusting, cooperative,
modest, and straightforward. It may have its roots in temperament.
• Conscientious people are diligent, disciplined, well-organised, punctual, and
dependable. Some models refer to this trait as constraint, related to high productivity
in a variety of occupational areas.
2
,Psychodynamic Perspectives
Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory
• Structures of the personality are
largely in the unconscious.
• Unaware of why we behave.
• Behaviour influenced by conflict
between instincts/drives, past
experiences, and social norms.
• Drives: psychological representations of energy obtained from the body.
• Main driving forces in human functioning.
• Encourage the person to function.
• Determine the direction of behaviour.
Life drives (serve to preserve life)
• Ego drives
All drives aimed at satisfying basic survival needs.
• Sexual drives
Primary function is erotic pleasure.
• Death drive
Represents the destructive force of human nature.
Intra-psychic explanation for war, aggression, murder, suicide.
3 Criticisms against Freud’s theory
1. In arguing that people’s behaviour is governed by unconscious factors of which they
are unaware, Freud made the disconnecting suggestion that individuals are not
masters of their own minds.
2. In claiming that adult personalities are shaped by childhood experiences and other
factors beyond one’s control, he suggested that people are not masters of their own
destinies.
3
, 3. By emphasizing the great importance of how people cope with their sexual urges, he
offended those who held the conservative values of his time.
Structure of Personality
3 Components:
• The ID
• The Ego
• Super Ego
Functions on three levels of the consciousness:
• The conscious
• The preconscious
• The unconscious
4
